Small businesses in the UK are still experiencing money problems because of late paying customers, despite new legislation to stem the problem.
A survey of 1,000 SMEs by the Bank of Scotland's (BoS) business arm shows that 68% regularly suffer money trouble as a result of delayed cheques.
Meanwhile, a surprisingly high 43% had been forced to take legal action against a customer to force payment.
The news comes despite tough new laws designed to warn off tardy payers. The rules mean suppliers can claim interest and fines on due debts, and can even charge companies for debt recovery costs if necessary.
It is thought that about 10,000 businesses collapse every year because of the problem. BoS said this was not surprising given that a quarter of respondents had waited more than two years for money.
